Paul McGinley asked him for form, so Lee Westwood gave him some. At 41 years of age, the Englishman shot a 65, equalling his lowest-ever score in a major, and sent himself to the top of the USPGA leaderboard and, who knows, perhaps all the way to Gleneagles in the process.

Can he dare to dream that on his 67th attempt, after eight top threes in the majors, this will finally be his week? With Rory McIlroy, the world No 1, one shot behind his backers may be feeling cautious. But after trampling all over his Valhalla ghosts from the 2008 Ryder Cup, the satisfaction in Westwood’s voice was unmistakable.

The four missed cuts in succession, which took in the US Open and Open, are now but a mere memory. Westwood shares the lead with the Americans Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer and is clearly re-energised.

“Last week was big for me - I felt I turned the corner in Akron,” Westwood said. “The first three rounds were frustrating because I played a lot better than three-over. Then obviously I got it going the final day, shot 63. This is just a continuation of that really. Momentum is a lovely thing.”

But for a double bogey on the first (his 10th), when his drive ended up in a divot, this round featuring nine birdies would have been even better. On a day when the pins were tucked, Westwood went hole chasing and by the denouement he was finding them with ease, making five birdies in the last six holes

Westwood hit a wedge from four feet on the fourth (his 13th) but from the sixth (his 15th) it was his oft-lamented putter which did the damage. A 20-footer was followed by a 10-footer, was followed by another 20-footer and then there was a 40-footer to finish.

How different it all felt to the last time he was here and the disastrous Sir Nick Faldo captaincy led to one of just two Ryder Cup defeats Westwood has suffered in eight appearances. “I’ve blocked that out,” Westwood said. Maybe he has, but it would be ironic if the venue for what he describes as ‘one of my biggest golfing disappointments’ handed him a Ryder lifeline this time around. Looking on from the Sky Sports commentary booth, McGinley, the Europe captain, would have been delighted.

“Paul said to me ‘try to show some form’,” Westwood said. “ I don't know whether he's just looking for a reason to pick me, but I've shot 63 last Sunday and I'm leading a major this week, so I'm ticking that box for him. I'm still trying to qualify for the team to free up a pick for Paul.”

Of course, McIlroy is a certainty and has his eyes set on the grander aim of becoming the first back-to-back major champion in six years. And on the evidence of this 66 a fourth major and a third win in succession is eminently possible, if not probable. Prepare for frenzied talk about the ‘McIlSlam’.

Like Westwood there was a double bogey on McIlroy’s card. The 25-year-old had effortlessly moved to three-under by the turn, but then handed the shots back with a seven on the par-five 10th - where he snap-hooked his second out-of-bounds - and a bogey on the 11th. Not so long ago, he would have panicked. Not now. McIlroy immediately reeled off four successive birdies and then birdied the 18th as well.

Once again, his driving was ridiculous as he averaged 327.8 yards with an 85.71 percent accuracy. For his last nine rounds, all of which have been under par, he is a combined 37-under - and these last nine rounds happen to have taken place in two majors and a World Golf Championship event. “I’ve got a good thing going now,” McIlroy said. “I know where my game is and I’m very confident with it. I’m just trying to ride the momentum.”

On the same mark is the American Jim Furyk as well as the Englishman Chris Wood, the Swede Henrik Stenson and the Italian Edward Molinari on a storming first day for Europe. There was also Ian Poulter’s 68 to cheer McGinley and a 69 from the Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who holds the last automatic spot.

Justin Rose is on one-under as is the renaissance figure of Colin Montgomerie. The 51-year-old qualified by winning the Senior PGA crown and is playing his first major in four years. Who would have expected for the Scot to better Tiger Woods’s score by four?

The 14-time major winner was simply awful in his 74. But then, after withdrawing after eighth holes at Akron on Sunday in agony with a back complaint, it is remarkable he is here at all. However, unless his game improves markedly today, he will not be here for very long.

Playing with Woods, Phil Mickelson shot a 69, which offered some much-needed encouragement to the US Ryder Cup captain, Tom Watson, who, himself, ‘beat’ Woods by two shots with a 72. Having lost Dustin Johnson to his mystery ‘leave of absence’ last week, Watson saw two members of his potential team withdraw yesterday.

Kuchar, fifth in the standings, pulled out before his tee-off because of back spasms, while Jason Dufner, seventh in the standings, lasted 10 holes before he walked off at eight-over. The defending champion has been suffering from a neck injury since the Masters and vowed not to play again until he is healthy.

Whether that excludes Dufner from the Ryder Cup is unclear but what is plain is that with just three days to go in the US race, this qualifying picture is rapidly turning into a nightmare for Watson.